The return of European bison to the Țarcu Mountains opens up new opportunities for local communities and highlights the need for practical coexistence solutions. Mero Apple Spritzer is the first Rewilding Romania product built in this spirit.
More than ten years after the first bison were transported to the area, the population in the Țarcu Mountains has exceeded 250 individuals and continues to grow. The return of this species contributes to ecosystem restoration and brings the relationship between people and nature back into focus. At the same time, it creates the context for developing local initiatives that build on this presence. Mero Apple Spritzer emerged from this need: a concrete coexistence solution that supports communities and integrates bison into a regional economic model.
How did the story of Mero Apple Spritzer begin?
At certain times of the year, especially in late autumn and winter, local orchards are occasionally visited by bison attracted by unharvested fruit. These situations can cause discomfort and are managed through practical measures, such as installing electric fences to protect land and households, and through regular ranger patrols in areas close to villages, including support from specially trained canine teams.
Beyond these interventions, we set out to develop long-term solutions that bring direct benefits to local communities. In this context, in 2024, in collaboration with Casa Despi from Deta, a limited special edition of Mero Apple Spritzer dedicated to the bison was created. The initiative uses apples from orchards owned by local people in Armeniș, Teregova, and Cornereva and supports a model of coexistence between people and nature.
Through this partnership, apples are collected on time, processed, and turned into a finished product, while local producers receive a fair price for their fruit, two or even three times the usual market rate. The first batch of Mero Apple Spritzer, the limited “Bison” edition, was produced in 2024 using about 500 kilograms of apples, yielding 2,000 bottles. In 2025, the initiative grew significantly, reaching approximately 3,5 tonnes of apples collected from the same local producers, seven times more than the previous year. This growth reflects both the expansion of collaboration with farmers in the area and the community’s increased interest in such initiatives.
In 2026, we plan to continue the partnership with Casa Despi and local producers from the bison reintroduction area by developing a new product: a cider made from apples sourced from farmers involved in coexistence initiatives. At the same time, we aim to expand this model and involve more local producers, so that such initiatives gradually become a consistent practice that supports communities and harmonious coexistence with nature.
A network of partners advancing the idea of coexistence
The development of Mero would not have been possible without a network of partners who share the same vision: collaboration, responsibility, and respect for local resources. Mero Apple Spritzer is produced by Casa Despi from Deta, a family-run social enterprise in the Banat region and part of the Bio Banat initiative, which promotes local food, sustainability, and regional identity. Founded by the Despi family, the business began with natural apple juice made from fruit grown in nearby orchards and has grown around a philosophy of honest ingredients and respect for the land. Today, Casa Despi produces craft beverages using simple, natural processes and carefully selected fruit, collaborating with local partners and supporting farmers and rural communities.
The relationship between producers and the community was facilitated by the Alimenterra Association, which supports local economy models and connects small producers directly with consumers. CRIES – The Resource Center for Ethical and Solidarity Initiatives, and Reciproc Café in Timișoara have helped bring the product to an urban audience through events and tastings that highlight the connection between nature, community, and responsible consumption. In this context, Mero has gone beyond being just a drink and has become part of gastronomic experiences and a broader dialogue about sustainable development.
The launch of the limited-edition “Bison” Mero Apple Spritzer at Reciproc Café in Timișoara marked an important milestone in the initiative’s development. The drink was added to the café’s menu and served in a welcoming setting that encouraged discussion of coexistence between people and bison, as well as the role of such products in supporting local communities. On the same occasion, the “Bison” cocktail was created, inspired by this initiative, helping to promote both the product and the story of the bison’s return to the wild. In 2025, this approach continued not only in Timișoara but also in the reintroduction area, with a launch event in Armeniș, where partners from Reciproc Café brought the same experience to the local community.
Interest in Mero has also grown in other contexts. During the “Picnic La Pas” event organized by CRIES, the product was included in a tasting session for students and the local community. Such initiatives show openness to products that tell an authentic story and bring together multiple actors: producers, organizations, and consumers.
“I can’t believe products like this are made in Romania. It gives me hope. Why don’t we know about them?” said a Romanian student who had studied abroad during one of the tastings. His question reminded us of how important it is to bring local products into the spotlight, products that carry the imprint of people’s work and the identity of a place, whether food or handmade goods.
In 2025, Mero Apple Spritzer entered the World Food Gift Challenge 2026, an important step in positioning this product within the broader context of the Banat region, which is set to become a European Region of Gastronomy in 2028. In this sense, Mero can be seen as one of the first stories of a species’ return, experienced through taste, carrying with it the connection between nature, people, and the fruits of their work.
Mero – a successful coexistence project
The development and success of Mero Apple Spritzer demonstrate that such collaborations can deliver real solutions and serve as examples of good practice. Mero is not just a product, but the result of a shared effort in which each partner contributes to building a functional model of coexistence. As the bison population continues to grow, such initiatives become increasingly important in identifying practical ways for people and nature to live together in balance.
Coexistence is not built overnight, but through concrete steps adapted to local realities. Mero is one of these steps: an initiative that uses local resources, supports communities, and shows that the challenges of living alongside bison can once again be transformed into opportunities for local development.
